Enamel Teaspoons
Enamel teaspoons are bright silver table pieces finished with vitreous colour, sought after by collectors for their striking twentieth-century designs.
Enamel Teaspoons
Enamel teaspoons cover a range of small silver spoons finished with fused glass powder, appearing as single pieces or complete boxed sets. When searching for enamel teaspoons, a buyer encounters matching sets housed in leatherette cases, often intended for gifting or formal tea service.
The examples on this page span from the nineteenth century through to the middle of the twentieth century. Art Deco designs dominate the selection, alongside earlier Arts and Crafts and Imperial Russian pieces.
How they were made
Makers formed these spoons using sterling silver or solid silver, frequently applying a gold gilt finish to the bowl interior or the entire spoon. Craftsmen then fused vitreous enamel into recessed metal compartments to create the coloured decoration.
Specialised techniques such as cloisonné appear on nineteenth-century pieces, where thin metal wires create the boundaries for different enamel colours. Many sets come complete with original fitted presentation boxes lined in satin and leatherette.
Enamel Teaspoons Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for enamel teaspoons among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Some sets feature custom enamel club motifs, proving that early twentieth-century sailors still required proper cutlery after a race.
What varies in quality
Quality in these pieces rests upon the precision of the metalwork and the complexity of the enamel design. Finer sets display crisp geometric patterns from the Art Deco period or intricate wirework seen in Imperial Russian examples.
The survival of the original fitted case and the completeness of a matching set influence the desirability of the spoons. Maker attribution also plays a role, with documented pieces carrying distinct marks from notable firms.
David Andersen·Vasily Agafonov·Liberty and Co
The Enamel Teaspoons Glossary
- Vitreous Enamel
- A glass-like substance fused to a metal surface through high-temperature firing. This material provides the durable, glossy colour found on the bowls and handles of these spoons.
- Silver Gilt
- Silver that has been coated with a thin layer of gold. This treatment adds a warm yellow tone and protects the underlying silver from tarnishing.
- Cloisonné
- An enamelling technique where metal wires are soldered to a base to form compartments filled with enamel paste. This method creates detailed patterns before the final firing.
- Leatherette
- A synthetic material embossed to imitate leather, commonly used to cover the exterior of antique presentation cases. It protects the spoons when stored.
- Sterling Silver
- A silver alloy containing a specific proportion of pure silver and other metals for durability. British pieces typically bear hallmarks confirming this standard.
Enamel Teaspoons: Frequently Asked Questions
What are enamel teaspoons?
Enamel teaspoons are small silver spoons decorated with fused glass colour, produced primarily during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
They appear frequently as complete boxed sets intended for domestic use or display.
How do I date an enamel spoon?
Dating relies on stylistic clues like Art Deco geometry or Art Nouveau curves, alongside any silver hallmarks stamped on the metal.
Maker marks and the style of the presentation box also help narrow down the period of manufacture.
Can I use them for tea?
These spoons were designed for daily use during tea service, though many survive today inside their original presentation cases.
Gentle hand washing preserves the delicate glass enamel and any gold gilt finish.
Why are they sold in sets?
Matching sets of six were standard for formal hospitality and afternoon tea service in the early twentieth century.
Many manufacturers supplied these sets in fitted cases lined with satin for presentation and safe storage.